updated 06:10 pm EST, Mon December 12, 2011

Request for added observations seen as typical

The European Commission (EC) has "invited" third parties to submit observations on Google's proposed acquisition of Motorola Mobility. The action means that the EC will postpone, at least for a short time, rendering a final decision on the potential anti-competitive aspects of the $12.5 billion takeover bid. Google describes the EC's action as "routine" and still hopes to get approvals in early 2012 to close the deal.

Google announced its plans to acquire Motorola back in August. The company has claimed that the action was necessary to better enable the Internet search giant to broaden its patent portfolio "to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies." Since then, the proposed deal has elicited scrutiny from both US and European regulators.

The EC indicated that it had found sufficient grounds to question the proposed acquisition on anti-competitive grounds on November 25. The Commission made its decision to ask for additional information on December 6, but it has taken until today for its request to be available publicly. [viaBloomberg]